Supplemental car-step.



Patented Oct. :0, $99.

No. sauna.

A. HEILPBII. SUPPLEMENTAL GAR STEP. L hmm aha Aug 7 1899) (in Model.)

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YA. HEILPRIN. 'SUPPLEIEHTAL CAR STEP. .a phmm filed Aug 7 1899) 2 Sheets-Sheet (No Modal.)

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UNITED, STATES.

PATENT O F E.

ANGELO HEILPRIN, OF PHHIADEIJPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUPPLEMENTAL CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ratent N 634,613, dated October 10, 1899. Application filed August 7,1899. Serial I To.f'726,352 (lilo mean.)

' To all whom it pea/y concern:

1 Steps, of whichthe following is a specification.

' This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in supplemental steps for cars, the object being to provide the ordinary steps of a car with an additional step,

- which when not in use is'held in a vertical position beneath the lower permanent step and when not so positioned may be lowered from the car-platform, the construction and arran gement providing a step which when not in use willnot project beyond the lower fixed step of the car and which maybe opera-ted when the gate of the car-platform is opened or may be disconnected therefronn'so that the step will remain in a vertical position when the gate is opened.

In carrying out my invention I provide the car-platform with hangers or other means for supporting the fixed steps and for pivotally connecting thereto a supplemental step, the support and step having means suitably connected thereto which when brought into play will lower the supplemental step and hold it in a horizontal position, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view showing one form of my improved car-step applied to a car. Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the supplemental step raised. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a front elevation of the step and means for attaching springs which raise the step to a vertical position. Fig. 4: is a detail sectional View on the dotted line i 4; of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation showing means whereby the supplemental step is actuated from the gate of the platform. Fig. 6 is a side View of oneform of the step-operating mechanism shown in- Fig. 5.

In the drawings, A indicates the platform of a car, which is provided with the usual steps a a, the frame which supports the step being extended beneath the lower step to provide hangers b b, in which is secured the rod or shaft 1), upon which a supplemental step .13 is secured, so as to turn thereon. The step B is constructed to have on the side opposite its tread an arm B, and. the other end of the tread may have asiniilar arm B which coacts with the arm '8 to maintain the auxiliary step when lowered in a horizontal position. The ends of the arms B B can abut against I a rod b carried by the hangers, and the bent ends or stops on the arms will engage the frame. A series of coiled springs 17 are positioned upon the rod 1). One end of the springs bears against the bar 12 while the other end engages the under side of the step and may be permanently attached thereto. The tendency of thesprings is tohold the step B in avertical position beneath the lower fixed step a.

the platform I pivota lever 0, one end being connected by a rod 0 tothe arm B. This lever may have a suitable lock or catch and, if desirable, a spring which tends to lower the rod 0, attached to the step, said spring coacting with the springs 12 on the supporting-rod b. The hangers, which depend beneath the lower fixed step and to which the supplemental step is connected, are of such configuration that the projecting portion on the ends of the arms will abut against the inner sides of the hanger when the supplemental step is in a horizontal position and will clear the hangers when the step is swung upward.

To operate or lower the supplemental step from the vertical position, (shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,) the hand-lever 0 is depressed and locked in the position shown in Fig. 1, which movement is contrary or against that exerted by the spring and brings the step to a horizontal position, in which it is held by the look. It is only necessary to release the position.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings I have shown means for operating the auxiliary stepby a movement of the platform-gate, and in such instance the platform-gate D may be mounted to swing independently of a standard D, and when so mounted the standard I) is supported so as to have a rotary movement in its bearings and carries at its lower end a gear, preferably a beveled pinion d, whichmeshes with At a suitable pointupon the guard-rail of.

lock to permit the step to assume a vertical.

agear or similar pinion d which is provided either with an outwardly-projecting arm 6 or a hub e. When the arm e is used, the supplemental step may be connected thereto by v a vertical positiomand when a rod E, and where it mayl a flexible connection such taohed to the hub or drum With the construction she is closed the auxiliarystep it will be lowered. vided with a suitable eat when one end of the same the standard a pin carried will be disengaged from the e desirable to use connection is ate and to the step.

vn when the gate will be brought to the gate is opened The standard D is proh or look f, and is pressed toward by the other end hinge of the gate,

so that the gate may swing independent of the same and so that the gate ea out operating the step. cases where the cars stop op which p'latt'oi 111 is usuallybu the lower fixed step.

The su plemental step is as now constructed, and W1 the fixed step of a suitable ent brackets or hangers 1 thereto. Th) eonstructior This n 1 e opened withis desirable in posite a platform,

ilt on alevel with applicable to cars lero supports for yr e are not pres ay be oonnec ed is such that th are are no p1 off the car add to the wit' th of the car. also appli able to open orsil cars, as the sr pplemental s ojeoting parts whic engage the olothes of a pc *son getting on d the step when 1 are liable to or raised does not The inventior is e-entering streetmay be readily applied thereto and operated either from the front or rear platform.

The invention is susceptible of modifications which can be readily made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of the claims.

I claim- 1."In combination with a car platform and its step or steps the lower of said step or steps having depending means and means for pivotally connecting therewith an auxiliary step, a spring positioned between the depending supporting means and mounted thereon so as to hold the auxiliary step in a vertical position, means carried by the step for limiting its movement beyond a horizontal position when lowered and means for manually operating the step against the action of the spring and holding the same in ahorizontal position, substantially as shown.

2. The combination with a car-platform and its steps, of an auxiliary step pivotally supported and provided with means for maintaining the same in a veitioal position be neath no lower fixed ste of the platform, mean. onnected to the auxiliary step to one side of its pivot and extending upward th refrom a 'otary standard having at its lower end me ins for engaging and actuating the auxilitiy step, a gate mouL ted on the standard so as to move therewith or independent thereof and a lock for connecting or disconnecting the gate and stand ard.

In testimony whereof I l ave hereunto my ham 1 in presence of tw subscribing nesses.

set *it- ANGELO IIEILPRIN. W'itnesses: v

G. F. HEILPRIN,

JOHNSON. 

